Samsung Electronics has promoted the son and heir apparent of its chairman to the job of vice chairman.

Jay Y Lee, son of chairman Lee Kun-hee, is already chief operating officer and president and is widely expected to be his father's successor.

"The promotion of Jay Y. Lee recognises his outstanding achievements as a leader of innovation and as a change agent, which has led to Samsung becoming one of the world’s beloved brands and to a commensurate rise in shareholder value," the firm said in a canned statement.

"Mr. Lee has also made invaluable contributions to the unprecedented growth of Samsung’s smartphone and TV businesses."

The Samsung group was started by Lee Byung-chull, Jay Lee's grandfather, and the electronics business is the most well-known arm of the giant South Korean family-run firm, known as a chaebol.

Politicians in the country have promised to democratise economics in the country, as ordinary Koreans express anger at how top-earning jobs are kept in the family. ®